Master link for a track chain

Abstract

A master link for a track chain is disclosed. The master link may include a first portion that abuts a first face of the link, a second portion that abuts a second face of the link, a first bore located on a first end of the link, a second bore located on a second end of the link, and a material located between the first portion and the second portion and extending between the first bore and the second bore. The material may create a separation between the first portion and the second portion to facilitate placement of the first bore and the second bore around outer diameters of corresponding mating members of a track chain. The material may be removable to remove the separation from between the first portion and the second portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A link, comprising:
 a first portion that abuts a first face of the link; 
 a second portion that abuts a second face of the link; 
 a first bore located on a first end of the link; 
 a second bore located on a second end of the link; and 
 a material located between the first portion and the second portion and extending between the first bore and the second bore,
 wherein the material creates a separation between the first portion and the second portion to facilitate placement of the first bore and the second bore around outer diameters of corresponding mating members of a track chain, 
 wherein the material is removable to remove the separation from between the first portion and the second portion. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The link of  claim 1 , wherein the material is removable by melting of the material. 
     
     
       3. The link of  claim 2 , wherein the material has a melting temperature that is less than a material of the link. 
     
     
       4. The link of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the material is in a shape of a wedge, 
 wherein the material is removable by application of a mechanical force to the material. 
 
     
     
       5. The link of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to contract toward each other to secure the first bore and the second bore around the outer diameters of the corresponding mating members after the material has been removed and without application of a mechanical force to the link. 
     
     
       6. The link of  claim 1 , wherein the first bore and the second bore have corresponding distorted circular shapes based on the material creating the separation,
 wherein the corresponding distorted circular shapes facilitate placement of the first bore and the second bore around the outer diameters of the corresponding mating members. 
 
     
     
       7. The link of  claim 1 , wherein the material applies tension to the first portion and the second portion to expand the first bore and the second bore. 
     
     
       8. A master link, comprising:
 a first portion that abuts a first face of the master link; 
 a second portion that abuts a second face of the master link; 
 a first bore located on a first end of the master link; and 
 a second bore located on a second end of the master link,
 wherein corresponding shapes of the first bore and the second bore facilitate securing of the first bore and the second bore to corresponding mating members of a track chain without use of a set of fasteners, 
 wherein a separation is located between the first portion and the second portion and extends between the first bore and the second bore,
 wherein the separation is expandable to facilitate insertion of a material between the first portion and the second portion and to facilitate placement of the first bore and the second bore around outer diameters of the corresponding mating members. 
 
 
 
     
     
       9. The master link of  claim 8 , wherein the master link is mechanically secured to a plurality of ground engaging plates of the track chain without the use of the set of fasteners. 
     
     
       10. The master link of  claim 8 , wherein the separation is formed by electro-discharge machining (EDM) after the master link has been cast. 
     
     
       11. The master link of  claim 8 , wherein the corresponding shapes of the first bore and the second bore are circular to match corresponding shapes of the outer diameters of the corresponding mating members. 
     
     
       12. The master link of  claim 8 , wherein the corresponding shapes facilitate compression of the first bore and the second bore around the outer diameters of the mating members. 
     
     
       13. The master link of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a hole that extends through the first face and the first portion and not into the second portion,
 wherein the hole is associated with securing a ground engaging plate to the first face and not with securing the first bore and the second bore to the corresponding mating members. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The master link of  claim 8 , wherein a width of the separation facilitates securing of the first bore and the second bore to the corresponding mating members. 
     
     
       15. A method, comprising:
 forming, by one or more machines of a factory, a link for a track chain,
 wherein the link has a first surface and a second surface that abut a third surface and a fourth surface, 
 wherein the link has a first bore and a second bore that extend through the third surface and the fourth surface,
 wherein the first bore is located at a first end of the link and the second bore is located at a second end of the link; 
 
 
 forming, by the one or more machines of the factory and in association with forming the link, a separation in the link that extends from the first bore to the second bore,
 wherein the separation creates a first portion of the link that abuts the first surface and a second portion of the link that abuts the second surface, 
 wherein a width of the separation facilitates securing of the first bore and the second bore to corresponding mating members of the track chain; 
 
 applying, by the one or more machines of the factory and after forming the separation, a mechanical force to expand the separation to facilitate insertion of a material within the separation and between the first portion and the second portion,
 wherein the material is associated with maintaining expansion of the separation to facilitate placement of the first bore and the second bore around outer diameters of the corresponding mating members; 
 
 inserting, by the one or more machines of the factory and after expanding the separation, the material between the first portion and the second portion; and 
 releasing, by the one or more machines of the factory and after inserting the material, the link from application of the mechanical force that is expanding the separation. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein forming the separation comprises:
 forming the separation using electro-discharge machining (EDM), or 
 forming the separation during casting of the link. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein inserting the material comprises:
 inserting a wedge of the material into the separation between the first portion and the second portion, or 
 flowing a molten form of the material into the separation between the first portion and the second portion. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein applying the mechanical force to expand the separation comprises:
 expanding the separation to a width that facilitates placement of the first bore and the second bore around the outer diameters of the corresponding mating members of the track chain; and 
 wherein inserting the material comprises:
 inserting the material to maintain the width of the separation. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 installing, after releasing the first portion and the second portion, the link on the track chain by:
 placing the first bore and the second bore around the outer diameters of the corresponding mating members, and 
 removing the material from between the first portion and the second portion. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein removing the material comprises:
 removing the material by:
 melting the material,
 wherein the material has a melting temperature that is less than a material of the link, or 
 
 applying a mechanical force to the material perpendicular to the third surface and the fourth surface.